According to Fitday. Calories consumed: 1329 Calories burned: 2766
I did 2 miles at the Y this morning while dd was at work and then I went to Curves after lunch. I was the only one there most of the time so on most of the machines I did not move on when the recording said "move to the next station" and did double on those machines both times around. The plan was to go back to the Y after a trip to Costco when dd got home. When we left Costco the sky was dark off to our right & it felt stormy. By the time we got to the Y the sky was very, very black & we just barely got inside before the rain hit. Just as I finished my first lap the lights went out and then most of them came back on (but not all of them). By the time I was finishing my second lap they were herding everyone downstairs and into the locker rooms. There we waited out a tornado warning for about 20-25 minutes and then it was over. A lot of people left but some stayed so we went back upstairs to walk. We did one lap and they herded us all back into the locker room to wait out another tornado warning. When that one was over we decided to just go home. It had stopped raining at the Y but the sky was still dark and we figured it was best to head for home while we still had a little daylight and would not be driving in the dark if it started again. By the time we got home the setting sun was shining brightly in a blue sky filled with white puffy clouds. Mother said it had not rained much here.
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 3931 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
OK… I’m back from the Y. My HR monitor gave me 30 calories for weight lifting 25 mins and 234 calories for 35 mins on the elliptical.
(forgot to figure the calories walking to Y...)
I think that this is in addition to whatever calories I had burned if I went to bed for an hour. I would have burned at least 50 calories taking a nap… just with my heart pumping and such. I know that when I wore my HR monitor skiing… it said that I didn’t burn ANY calories sitting and eating lunch. You have to meet some minimum HR level for the HR monitor to start calculating calories burned during exercise. You couldn’t just put it on for 24 hours and figure out how many calories you burn during that time.
So, personally, of all of the numbers available to me… I don’t find the Fitday numbers (at least the way I use it) to be exaggerated.
I know that when I logged really, really well for 23 days last year. I burned: 53,981cals I ate: 46,046
Which would be a deficit of 7, 935 calories or 2.26 lbs of fat worth. I think that is about right. I lost 6.5 lbs during those 23 days… but most of it was water weight… and I guessed that I lost about 2-3 lbs in fat.
Originally posted by Brie: I don't even bother putting in my exercise. I just use Fitday to track calories. I know what my calorie range needs to be to maintain (and lose) and week to week, I'm steady enough with my exercise that I don't change how much I eat based on how much I supposedly burn.
I mostly do it to amuse myself. And when I do use Fitday in a OCD way... I'm usually up in weight... and trying to lose 2-3 lbs... and I like to see if I have created a 3500 calorie deficit over a week's time (based on the Fitday numbers and assuming that they might sort of kind of be accurate). Generally, if I create a 3500 calorie deficit on Fitday… I generally lose about 1 lb… so I’m guessing that my guesstimates are in the ball park of accurate.
I don't even bother putting in my exercise. I just use fitday to track calories. I know what my calorie range needs to be to maintain (and lose) and week to week, I'm steady enough with my exercise that I don't change how much I eat based on how much I supposedly burn.
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
Originally posted by D in St Pete: To prove how different we all are...
I have mine set for "seated work." When I plug in exercise time, I always subtract 10 minutes from what the machine said. When I plug in exercise effort, I pick the one below what I *think* it should be.
This is how I'd plug in my hour of exercise yesterday.
Fitday doesn't have an elliptical machine... so I use the stationary bike numbers.
The elliptical at the Y asks for my weight... but I plug in 5 lbs less than I really weigh so that it will err on the lower side of calories. The elliptical at the Y gave me 380 calories for 35 mins on the machine yesterday.
My elliptical at home doesn't ask my weight, so I guess that it assumes that I weight 150 lbs??? At home, I get 530 cals for working out 35 mins.
Fitday (the way I put it in) gave me 222 calories for my 35 mins.
I'll wear my HR monitor today and see what number IT gives me.
EDIT: Spark people gave me 315 calories for my 35 mins of the elliptical.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GoingSkiing,
I have mine set for "seated work." When I plug in exercise time, I always subtract 10 minutes from what the machine said. When I plug in exercise effort, I pick the one below what I *think* it should be.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Originally posted by BrenauMom: They show my basal calories burned as 1561 which is pretty close to the number I get when I work thru Dr. Peeke's formula.
They probably use about the same formula. MyPyramid.gov and Fitday... pretty much everybody uses the same formula for basal or resting metabolism rates.
quote:
I finally chose "seated work" which gives me around 700 calories burned (that number gets lower as I enter my "activities, however, since I have started going to the Y and Curves I think I will change it to "seated work (some movement).
I have mine set at "seated work with some movement", I figured that I spend too many hours a day on my butt on the computer.
I don't mind the "threadjack". If these postings stimulate a good conversation that is fine with me.
quote:
Originally posted by Sandy: [...]I also wanted to add that (for me) fitday overestimates the number of calories burned. I wonder if others find this to be true?
They total your basal calories burned (the number of calories you body burns just to stay alive), the average calories burned by a person with your lifestyle (bedridden, sedentary, moderate, active, etc.) and the calories burned for the activities you enter.
They show my basal calories burned as 1561 which is pretty close to the number I get when I work thru Dr. Peeke's formula. For "lifestyle" I had a hard time deciding what to mark. Their options are: Sedentary (bedridden) Seated Work Seated Work (some movement) Standing Work (housework) Strenuous work (construction)
I do have a very sedentary lifestyle but I am not bedridden. I don't work and don't have much housework to do other than fixing my meals (mother will not even let me do the laundry-I don't do it "right" & besides, according to her I am still "disabled" ). And I am certainly not in construstion .
I finally chose "seated work" which gives me around 700 calories burned (that number gets lower as I enter my "activities, however, since I have started going to the Y and Curves I think I will change it to "seated work (some movement).
"Live your life so that you are not afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
Posts: 3931 | Location: NE Atlanta (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Duluth) | Registered: March 15, 2004
Originally posted by D in St Pete: I can lose weight TRACKING up to 1600 calories a day. I expect that I'm eating more than that, but it doesn't matter. I know that being consistent with my tracking and hitting that range results in weight loss.
So it wasn't so much finding a calorie range that was 100% accurate, it was finding a marker (in this case, 1600) that told me the water had risen too high to cross the bridge.
I totally agree with this. I eat 1600 MANY days... but I know that is not my AVERAGE calories.
I think that the ONLY down side to "under counting" (even if it is intentional)... I've had MANY, MANY people post to me, "Whaaaaa! It isn't fair that I have to eat so little and you can eat sooooo much!" When you have them post for several days what they have eaten... they are not EATING so little... they are COUNTING so little. A little different.
OR... they are eating less than I am... but they are in losing mode. I am not. Yes, I can eat 3,500 calories a week more than a person in losing mode.
The conversation reminds me of one that I think Denise is remembering, too.
I still believe that if you track consistently, accuracy isn't as important.
I can lose weight TRACKING up to 1600 calories a day. I expect that I'm eating more than that, but it doesn't matter. I know that being consistent with my tracking and hitting that range results in weight loss.
So it wasn't so much finding a calorie range that was 100% accurate, it was finding a marker (in this case, 1600) that told me the water had risen too high to cross the bridge.
And, being honest with it. That was NOT 8 oz of chicken on my plate at the restaurant. It was 16, easily. I did NOT eat 1/2 cup of soup--I ate the whole bowl, which was WAY over 4 oz.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
Most people assume that I have a better than average metabolism and thus naturally or effortlessly burn more calories than the average person. Actually, I thought that might possibly be the case, too...
But in my last battery of test and blood work and such... sadly, not the case. I'm pretty much average... and on the bell curve of "normal"... on on the slope heading towards slower metabolism... not faster metabolism.
Sad but true. I do not have the super metabolism that people tend to bestow upon me.
Originally posted by Sandy: I also wanted to add that (for me) Fitday overestimates the number of calories burned. I wonder if others find this to be true?
I have found that when I am BRUTALLY honest about what I eat and the activities that I do… Fitday is probably pretty much accurate for me… both in calories in and calories out.
I think that universally… the average American woman who has lost weight is just extremely crappy at estimating both her calories in and calories out.
According to studies done by the National Weight Control Registry… the average female member believes that she is eating about 1300 calories a day, however, studies find that it is closer to 1,900 calories a day. And remember many (if not most), NWCR members are in losing mode, they are not maintaining. Many NWCR members have crept up in lbs and are trying to take them off. Also many NWCR members have lost some of their weight… but are not at their “goal” weights and continue to be in losing mode.
From this WebMD article (Originally published on January 1, 2008):
“New research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals just how many calories, on average, men and women in their forties, fifties and sixties burn each day. Drum roll… please! According to the study, men aged 40 to 69 expend about 2,900 calories. Women of the same age burn 2,300 calories daily. (These averages vary based on a person’s height, weight and activity.)… (Men in their sixties still burned about 2,700 calories; women, 2,200.)”
* * * * * * * When I’ve polled people (mostly women) on both this board and the WW board… I am sort of surprised at how incredibly below average a group of people believe themselves to be.
Most women on both boards report that they only burn and maintain on between 1200 to 1900 calories a day. Virtually no one reports that they burn over 2,000 calories a day. On WW, you can get 50 responses to a thread… I’ve only seen 3 people (myself included) who say that they burn in the 2,300 - 2,500 calorie range. And the research above says that 2300 cals is AVERAGE… and for women in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. On both this board and the WW board… I have people in their 20’s and 30’s reporting that they can only eat 1400 cals a day or they gain.
When I’ve been a hyper-vigilant and super anal Fitday user, Fitday calculates that I burn about 2,400 calories a day… which I believe is probably somewhat accurate. This is also fairly consistent with the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition report.
MOST people/dieters expect to be told that they burn 1500 to 1800 calories a day… and when Fitday tells them that are really burning 2100 or 2300 calories… they tend not to believe it. That’s my guess, anyway.
Most women that I have encountered over the past 5 years simply do not want to believe that they eat as many calories as they really do. Most people want to believe that they average well below 2,000 calories a day... although studies show that this simply is not acurate for most people.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: GoingSkiing,
Popping in to also give my encouragement. My weight loss also seems to have come after 5-10 days of being on track. Eating out can be a huge calorie bomb. I think that you'll find your balance of limiting it and being careful. The fact that you are checking out your restaurant web sites will help. (I have found that awareness of the calories was a start in my willingness to change.)
I also wanted to add that (for me) fitday overestimates the number of calories burned. I wonder if others find this to be true?
First of all I want to say that you are doing an awesome job, not only being accountable, but getting out there and exercising.
I used to belong to Curves and for the entire first month my weight did not go down, in fact, I think I actually gained a lb or two BUT when they measured me after my first month I had lost over 7 inches. I could see AND feel a difference so you can't always gage your progress based on the number on your scale.
Also glad to know you are safe with that bad weather.
Jill
Summer Challenge Goals: 1) Walk 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week 2) Plan weekly menus
Originally posted by Brie: For myself, if I ate out once/week, I would have been in perpetual maintenance mode. Is it possible that is why you keep losing and gaining the same few pounds?
For myself, I always lost/maintained just fine eating out once a week. When I was in losing mode, I was a lot more careful about what I ordered, but we ate out once a week. And I always have done best when we limit it to once a week and don’t let it creep up to more times a week.
I think that the best plan is to decide how many "discretionary calories" is realistic and to still lose and then to stick to it.
Some people use their discretionary calories on wine or beer or nightly Skinny Cows or daily chocolate or one sinful dessert a week or eating out in a restaurant once a week.
I think that where people get into trouble is when they try and do it ALL… wine, daily chocolate, brownie sundaes on Friday nights, eating out once a week. There are just not enough discretionary calories in life to do it ALL… at least EVERY week. Doing it ALL is sort of like the week between Christmas and New Years or a week of vacation.
Anyway, that is my advice… decide on how many splurge calories a week is realistic… and where do you want to spend them…and then stick to it.
PS. Judy, I think that you are doing AWESOME with the accountability. I also know that for me, I have to be in losing mode 10 days or so to see a loss. I stay the same…. Stay the same…. Stay the same… and then see a 1 or 2 lb loss. So just hang in there!! I also think that the fact that you are not bouncing back up to 207 or 208 is awesome. Hang in there… I think that you might be on the verge of seeing a 203 in the next week or so.
I'm glad to hear that you made it through the nasty weather safely.
Good for you for the extended workout too!
How did you make out over the weekend with calculating the calories from dining out?
For myself, if I ate out once/week, I would have been in perpetual maintenance mode. Is it possible that is why you keep losing and gaining the same few pounds?
Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; and on our character we build our destiny.
. It is under "typing, manual, electric or computer".
